Northeast
2 women killed, 19 hospitalized after explosion at Pennsylvania nursing home
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Two women – a staff member and a resident – were killed and at least 19 people remain hospitalized after an explosion and partial building collapse at a senior living facility in Bristol, Pennsylvania, police said, clarifying earlier reports of a possible third death.
Bristol Township police Wednesday said the two women were the only confirmed fatalities. Authorities had initially reported a third possible death, but said that patient was resuscitated at the hospital.
Twenty people were transported to area hospitals following the explosion. Police said 19 people remained hospitalized, including one person listed in critical condition.
Officials said emergency crews responded to reports of an explosion at the Silver Lake Nursing Home on Tower Road at about 2:15 p.m. Tuesday.
CALIFORNIA HOME EXPLOSION CAUGHT ON DOORBELL CAMERA
An explosion occurred at a nursing home in Pennsylvania on Tuesday. (KYW via NNS)
Fire officials said crews arrived within minutes and found significant structural damage, with parts of the first floor collapsing into the basement, trapping residents inside.
Firefighters and emergency medical crews from multiple jurisdictions went into rescue mode, pulling residents out through doors, windows, stairwells and an elevator shaft.
While crews were on site, PECO said, an explosion occurred at the facility. Immediately after the explosion, crews shut off the natural gas and electric service to the facility to ensure the safety of the first responders and local residents.
The company added that it is unknown if PECO equipment or natural gas, was involved in the incident.
FIRE ERUPTS IN US CAPITOL TROLLEY SYSTEM, 2 POLICE OFFICERS TAKEN TO HOSPITAL
An explosion occurred at a nursing home in Pennsylvania on Tuesday, Dec. 23. (KYW via NNS)
Fox News Digital has reached out to PECO for additional information.
Those who were rescued were handed off to police officers from nearby municipalities.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said one police officer threw two people over his shoulders and ran them to safety.
“Oftentimes in our communities, we don’t appreciate that type of heroism, and that is what was on display here in Bucks County today,” the governor said.
EXPLOSION ROCKS SENIOR LIVING APARTMENT BUILDING IN OHIO, MULTIPLE PEOPLE INJURED
Officials also said two people were rescued from the actual collapsed structure in the basement.
At one point, emergency crews detected a heavy odor of gas, and they quickly got everyone out that they could find. Within about 30 seconds of exiting the building, there was a second explosion and fire, which fire crews were able to keep in check and prevent from spreading.
Still, local residents came out of their homes and offered to help emergency crews, which Shapiro praised.
“Look, I think this is the Pennsylvania way: neighbors helping neighbors in a moment of need,” he said. “You saw that here in Bristol. You saw that here in Bucks County. This is how we do this.”
First responders work the scene of an explosion and fire at Bristol Health & Rehab Center, Tuesday, in Bristol, Pa. (Monica Herndon/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP)
State Rep. Tina Davis said earlier in the day that she is closely monitoring the situation and urged the public to avoid the area as emergency crews respond to the reported explosion and fire at the Silver Lake Nursing Home.
“I am deeply concerned by the reports of an explosion and fire at the Silver Lake Nursing Home in Bristol Township,” she said. “My thoughts are with the residents, their families, and the staff during this frightening situation. I am closely monitoring developments and remain in contact with local officials and first responders as they work to ensure everyone’s safety. I urge the public to avoid the area, so emergency crews can do their jobs.”
Emergency personnel work at the scene of an explosion and fire at Bristol Health & Rehab Center, Tuesday, in Bristol, Pa. (Monica Herndon/The Philadelphia Inquirer)
State Rep. Tina Davis said earlier in the day that she is closely monitoring the situation and urged the public to avoid the area as emergency crews respond to the reported explosion and fire at the Silver Lake Nursing Home.
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“I am deeply concerned by the reports of an explosion and fire at the Silver Lake Nursing Home in Bristol Township,” she said. “My thoughts are with the residents, their families, and the staff during this frightening situation. I am closely monitoring developments and remain in contact with local officials and first responders as they work to ensure everyone’s safety. I urge the public to avoid the area, so emergency crews can do their jobs.”
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Boston, MA
Boston City Hall intruder who stole from employees nabbed by police, after shoplifting arrest: BPD
Boston Police said they have nabbed the masked suspect who entered private office suites in City Hall during work hours and stole wallets stuffed with cash and credit cards from multiple employees.
The Boston Police Department identified Darrin O’Neil, 60, of Lowell as the suspect involved in the City Hall thefts, which occurred last month, on Dec. 1.
O’Neil was already being held after a prior shoplifting arrest at DICK’s House of Sport on Boylston Street when he was identified as the alleged perpetrator of the City Hall crime, following what the cops described as an “extensive investigation,” Boston Police said on Wednesday.
Three City Hall employees reported that their wallets, which contained cash, credit cards, health savings account cards, and personal ID were stolen from their offices, per Boston Police reports.
One woman who had her wallet snatched out of her purse with two credit cards, her City Hall ID, Massachusetts driver’s license, insurance and library cards, and $100 in cash told police two of her coworkers saw an unknown man “in the area who was wearing a brown beanie, dark jacket, sweatpants, and a blue face mask.”
Two other employees told police that not only were cash and credit cards stolen from their offices, but the thief used the cards to rack up hundreds of dollars in unauthorized purchases — totaling $1,500 at Macy’s and Walgreens.
The incident led to calls from two city councilors, Ed Flynn and Erin Murphy, for the city to tighten up security protocols in light of the intrusion and theft, which occurred during work hours and was described by both as a “security breach.”
Mayor Michelle Wu’s office said a day later that steps have already been taken to increase security after the incident, which involved unauthorized access to “several” office suites that are restricted to authorized personnel only.
Municipal Protective Services, which provides security for city buildings, has increased internal patrols throughout City Hall as a result of the incident, the mayor’s office said.
O’Neil was arrested on shoplifting charges on Dec. 27 at 760 Boylston St., after he was seen inside DICK’s House of Sport concealing merchandise, police said.
Police said they had responded to the store at 11:39 a.m. for a report of a theft in progress.
While police approached, O’Neil was seen exiting the sporting goods store. The cops “were able to quickly stop the suspect and could see clothing with tags affixed to them inside of a bag,” police said.
During a search, about $408 of stolen merchandise was recovered, police said.
For the shoplifting incident, O’Neil was arrested and charged with larceny under $1,200 and being a common and notorious thief, police said.
After further investigation, police said they determined that O’Neil had seven active warrants for his arrest for charges of four counts of larceny from a building, three counts of receiving stolen property under $1,200, two counts of larceny of a credit card, shoplifting by asportation, credit card fraud under $1,200, and shoplifting by concealing merchandise.
After O’Neil was identified as the alleged City Hall thief, police said they sought additional criminal complaints in Boston Municipal Court on charges of two counts of larceny from a building, two counts of credit card fraud under $1,200 and being a common and notorious thief.
O’Neil is expected to be arraigned at Boston Municipal Court at a later date.
Following BPD’s announcement on Wednesday, Flynn said “larceny and retail theft must be a top priority for our city.”
“We must have zero tolerance for any type of theft and those arrested must be held accountable in our court system for their criminal behavior,” Flynn told the Herald.
Murphy said, “This incident was unacceptable, and I am glad the individual responsible has been arrested. My focus throughout has been on employee safety and securing City Hall offices. City Hall must be a safe workplace, and this incident underscores the importance of secure offices and prompt action.”
Mayor Wu’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on police identification of the alleged City Hall larceny suspect.
Pittsburg, PA
2 Pittsburgh business owners charged in EBT fraud scheme
Connecticut
Justice Department sues Connecticut and Arizona as part of effort to get voter data from the states
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Officials in Connecticut and Arizona are defending their decision to refuse a request by the U.S. Justice Department for detailed voter information, after their states became the latest to face federal lawsuits over the issue.
“Pound sand,” Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes posted on X, saying the release of the voter records would violate state and federal law.
The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division announced this week it was suing Connecticut and Arizona for failing to comply with its requests, bringing to 23 the number of states the department has sued to obtain the data. It also has filed suit against the District of Columbia.
Attorney General Pam Bondi said the department will “continue filing lawsuits to protect American elections,” saying accurate voter rolls are the ”foundation of election integrity.”
Secretaries of state and state attorneys general who have pushed back against the effort say it violates federal privacy law, which protects the sharing of individual data with the government, and would run afoul of their own state laws that restrict what voter information can be released publicly. Some of the data the Justice Department is seeking includes names, dates of birth, residential addresses, driver’s license numbers and partial Social Security numbers.
Other requests included basic questions about the procedures states use to comply with federal voting laws, while some have been more state-specific. They have referenced perceived inconsistencies from a survey from the U.S. Election Assistance Commission.
Most of the lawsuits target states led by Democrats, who have said they have been unable to get a firm answer about why the Justice Department wants the information and how it plans to use it. Last fall, 10 Democratic secretaries of state sent a letter to the Justice Department and the Department of Homeland Security expressing concern after DHS said it had received voter data and would enter it into a federal program used to verify citizenship status.
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong, a Democrat, said his state had tried to “work cooperatively” with the Justice Department to understand the basis for its request for voters’ personal information.
“Rather than communicating productively with us, they rushed to sue,” Tong said Tuesday, after the lawsuit was filed.
Connecticut, he said, “takes its obligations under federal laws very seriously.” He pledged to “vigorously defend the state against this meritless and deeply disappointing lawsuit.”
Two Republican state senators in Connecticut said they welcomed the federal lawsuit. They said a recent absentee ballot scandal in the state’s largest city, Bridgeport, had made the state a “national punchline.”
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